Resealable divided plate

ABSTRACT

A multi-compartment plate system including upper and lower plates each having an outer perimeter surrounding first and second compartments, the compartments disposed on an obverse side of the plates, each plate defining a respective recess extending about the periphery of its second compartment, and each plate having a raised rim extending about the periphery of its first compartment, the rim being contoured to nest within the recess of the second compartment of the other plate, such that when the upper plate is inverted and rotated with respect to the lower plate, the first and second compartments of the upper plate engage the opposing second and first compartments of the lower plate, respectively, to form a nested covered plate defining two separate, covered containers.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to resealable containers for food storage, and more particularly to plates for storing and serving food.

BACKGROUND

Container storage systems are used for the temporary storage, transport and serving of food. Many such containers provide only a single compartment and require a separate, detachable cover for sealing the contents stored inside. Two different components: a cover and a base container must be manufactured for each storage system. The cover and corresponding base container can often become separated and lost and may not provide for the single stacking or all components.

SUMMARY

A multi-compartment plate system includes upper and lower plates, each having an outer perimeter surrounding first and second compartments disposed on an obverse side of the plates, Each plate defines a respective recess extending about the periphery of its second compartment, and each plate has a raised rim extending about the periphery of its first compartment. The rim is contoured to nest within the recess of the second compartment of the other plate, such that when the upper plate is inverted and rotated with respect to the lower plate, the first and second compartments of the upper plate engage the opposing second and first compartments of the lower plate, respectively, to form a nested covered plate defining two separate, covered containers.

In various implementations, the recess and the raised rim of the plate system can each include a substantially convex portion adjacent a substantially concave portion. The concave portion of the recess for each of the first compartments engages the convex portion of the rim for each of the second compartments to form a releasable seal between the upper and lower plates. The seal can be substantially liquid-tight or substantially air-tight in some examples.

The plate system can also include additional compartments such as a third compartment disposed between the first and second compartments. In some examples, the plate system includes a number of ventilation holes extending through at least one of the compartments. A graspable tab can extend from the outer perimeter of one of both of the plates to separate the plates. In one example, a reverse side of the plates is contoured to receive and engage the obverse side of the plates to permit nested stacking of the plates for compact storage.

In another aspect, a first multi-compartment feeding plate includes a first compartment disposed on an obverse side having a raised rim extending about the periphery of the first compartment and a second compartment disposed on the obverse side having a recess extending about the periphery of the second compartment, where the recess of the second compartment is sized and configured for sealing engagement with the raised rim of the first compartment of an additional multi-compartment feeding plate, comparable to the first multi-compartment feeding plate, to form a covered plate defining two separate, covered containers.

In various implementations, the recess and the raised rim each include a substantially convex portion adjacent a substantially concave portion. The convex portions and concave portions of the recess are adapted for engaging the opposing concave and convex portions of the raised rim of the additional multi-compartment feeding plate, respectively, to form a interlocking seal. The reverse side of the plates can be contoured to receive and engage the obverse side of the plates to facilitate nested stacking for compact storage as in the above aspect.

The plate can also include additional compartments, such as a third compartment disposed between the first and second compartments. The plate can include a number of ventilation holes extending through one or both of the compartments. A graspable tab can extend from the perimeter of one or both of the plates.

The plate can be formed from a sheet of thermoplastic material by a manufacturing method such as injection molding, blow-molding, composite injection molding, compression molding or any combination of the foregoing. In some examples, the plate is thermoformed by the application of either vacuum or pressure. The thermoplastic material forming the plate can include a polymeric material such as polyesters, polystyrenes, and polypropylenes. In some examples, the plate has a wall thickness of from about 0.25 to about 3.0 millimeters.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an implementation of a plate.

FIG. 2 is a side view of two plates, each comparable to the plate of FIG. 1, connected together to form a covered plate.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the covered plate of FIG. 2

FIG. 4 is a partial-section view along lines A-A′ and B-B′ of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5A is a section view along line A-A′ of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5B and 5C are detail views of areas B and C, respectively, of FIG. 5A.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a divided plate 10 with a generally planar shape includes a first compartment 15 having a raised rim 20 extending about its perimeter and a second compartment 25 having a recess 30 extending about its perimeter. An intermediate compartment 35 can be disposed between the first and second compartments 15, 25. The rim 20 of the first compartment 15 is configured to engage the recess 30 of the second compartment 25, such that the plate 10 can be nested together with a second plate 10′, comparable to the plate 10, where the second plate 10′ is inverted and rotated 180-degrees with respect to the first plate 10, to form a covered plate 40 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Plate 10 can formed from a sheet of thermoplastic material with available manufacturing methods consisting of injection molding, blow-molding, composite injection molding and compression molding. Plate 10 can also be thermoformed by the application of at least one of vacuum and pressure processes. The thermoplastic material can include polymeric materials such as polyesters, polystyrenes, and polypropylenes, for example.

In one implementation, the plates 10, 10′ are formed from a resilient material to permit a pressure-fit along the raised rims 20, 20′ and the recesses 30′ 30, respectively. One or both of the plates 10, 10′ can be formed from a transparent or translucent material to provide visual access to the content of the volumes defined by the compartments without requiring separation of the plates. Plate 10 can have a wall thickness from about 0.25 to about 3.0 millimeters and in some examples, a wall thickness from about 0.25 to about 1.0 millimeters

With continued reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, and also FIGS. 4 and 5A, the raised rim 20 of compartment 15 of plate 10 joins with the recess 30′ of compartment 25′ of identical plate 10′ to define a container 45 having a suitable volume for holding contents. The recess 30 of compartment 25 of plate 10 joins with the raised rim 20′ of compartment 15′ of plate 10′ to define a container 50 having a suitable volume for holding contents. The compartment 35 of plate 10 engages the compartment 35′ of plate 10′ to define a container 55 having a suitable for holding contents. As shown in FIG. 4, one or both plates 10, 10′ can include a tab 60 to assist in the separating the plates 10, 10′ when pressed into sealing engagement to form the covered plate 40. In one implementation, one or more of the compartments includes ventilation holes 63 (FIG. 3). The holes can facilitate the escape of steam when heating the plate contents in a microwave, for example.

Referring now to FIGS. 5B and 5C, the recess 30 of plate 10 transitions to a base 70 along a shoulder 75. The raised ridge 20 of plate 10 transitions to the base 70 along a shoulder 80. The shoulder 75 can be disposed in a generally vertical orientation and, include a substantially convex portion 85 adjacent a substantially concave portion 90. The shoulder 80 can also be disposed in a generally vertical orientation and include a substantially convex portion 95 adjacent a substantially concave portion 100.

When the plates 10, 10′ are pressed together in sealing engagement, the convex portion 85 of shoulder 75 engages the concave portion 100′ of shoulder 80′ and the concave portion 90 of shoulder 75 engages the convex portion 95′ of shoulder 80′ to form the container 45 between the second compartment 25 of the plate 10 and the first compartment 15′ of plate 10′. Similarly, the convex portion 95 of shoulder 80 engages the concave portion 90 of shoulder 75′ and the concave portion 100 of shoulder 80 engages the convex portion 85′ of shoulder 75′ to form the container 50 between the first compartment 15 of plate 10 and the second compartment 25′ of plate 10′. The releasable seals between the opposing compartment can be liquid-tight or air-tight depending upon the specific implementation. The compartments 35 and 35′ are joined to form the container 55 between the plates 10, 10′.

The plate system can provide a complete multi-compartment storage system using two substantial comparable plates 10, 10′. The reverse side of the plate 10′ can be contoured to receive and engage an obverse side of the plate 10 to facilitate nested stacking for compact storage.

A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the plates 10, 10′ can be formed to include four or more compartments and formed into generally rectangular or circular shapes. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A multi-compartment plate system comprising: upper and lower plates each having an outer perimeter surrounding first and second compartments, the compartments disposed on an obverse side of the plates; each plate defining a respective recess extending about the periphery of its second compartment; and each plate having a raised rim extending about the periphery of its first compartment, the rim being contoured to nest within the recess of the second compartment of the other plate, such that when the upper plate is inverted and rotated with respect to the lower plate, the first and second compartments of the upper plate engage the opposing second and first compartments of the lower plate, respectively, to form a nested covered plate defining two separate, covered containers.
 2. The plate system of claim 1 wherein the recess and the raised rim each comprise a substantially convex portion adjacent a substantially concave portion, wherein the concave portion of the recess of each of the first compartments engages the convex portion of the rim of each of the second compartments to form a releasable seal between the upper and lower plates.
 3. The plate system of claim 2 wherein the releasable seal is substantially liquid-tight.
 4. The plate system of claim 2 wherein the releasable seal is substantially air-tight.
 5. The plate system of claim 1, wherein the plates further comprise a third compartment disposed between the first and second compartments.
 6. The plate system of claim 5, further comprising a number of ventilation holes extending through at least one of the containers.
 7. The plate system of claim 1, further comprising a graspable tab extending from the outer perimeter of at least one of the plates for separating the plates.
 8. The plate system of claim 1 wherein a reverse side of the plates is contoured to receive and engage the obverse side of the plates to facilitate nested stacking.
 9. A multi-compartment feeding plate comprising: a first compartment disposed on an obverse side having a raised rim extending about the periphery of the first compartment; and a second compartment disposed on the obverse side having a recess extending about the periphery of the second compartment; wherein the recess of the second compartment is sized and configured for sealing engagement with the raised rim of the first compartment of an additional multi-compartment feeding plate, comparable to said multi-compartment feeding plate, to form a covered plate defining two separate, covered containers.
 10. The plate of claim 9 wherein the recess and the raised rim each comprise a substantially convex portion adjacent a substantially concave portion, wherein the convex portions and concave portions of the recess are adapted for engaging the opposing concave and convex portions of the raised rim of the additional multi-compartment feeding plate, respectively, to form a interlocking seal.
 11. The plate system of claim 9 wherein a reverse side of the plates is contoured to receive and engage the obverse side of the plates to facilitate nested stacking.
 12. The plate of claim 9, further comprising a third compartment disposed between the first and second compartments.
 13. The plate of claim 12, further comprising a number of ventilation holes extending through at least one of the compartments.
 14. The plate of claim 9, further comprising a graspable tab extending from the perimeter of at least one of the plates.
 15. The plate of claim 9 wherein the plate is formed from a sheet of thermoplastic material.
 16. The plate of claim 9 wherein the plate is formed from a thermoplastic material by a manufacturing method consisting of injection molding, blow-molding, composite injection molding and compression molding.
 17. The plate of claim 16 wherein the plate is thermoformed by the application of at least one of vacuum and pressure.
 18. The plate of claim 16 wherein the plate thermoplastic material comprises a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polystyrenes, and polypropylenes.
 19. The plate of claim 9 wherein the plate has a wall thickness of from about 0.25 millimeters to about 3.0 millimeters.
 20. The plate of claim 9 wherein the plate has a wall thickness of from about 0.25 millimeters to about 1.0 millimeters. 